Stewardship for research on diseases of poverty: Business plan 2008-2013
Summary
In recent years, there has been considerable new momentum and increased financial support for research and control of infectious diseases of poverty. While this is a positive development, it has also resulted in fragmentation of efforts and greater scientific inequality between developing and developed countries. There is little coordination among different research initiatives and it is becoming increasingly difficult for all stakeholders to know what research is being undertaken and to what extent current research efforts meet priority needs for infectious disease control. Knowledge on priority needs is becoming blurred as different constituencies define priorities from their own perspective and the role of disease endemic countries in research priority setting remains extremely limited. Furthermore, limited access to relevant research evidence continues to hamper effective utilization of research results for disease control efforts in developing countries. Efforts to bring better coherence and harmonization of the various activities are now much needed. As the only United Nations based Programme dedicated to infectious diseases research, the TDR Programme is uniquely positioned to assume this global facilitating role, in close collaboration with its many co-sponsors, stakeholders and partners, including at regional and country level.